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Infant Medical Care Article
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Newborn Feeding Methods
from: Maxx Family LifeFeeding your baby should be easy, right? When she's hungry, you feed her. So, what's the problem? The problem is, there are many different feeding methods new moms must choose from. Here are just a few:
* Demand-feeding
* Hyper-scheduling
* Cry feeding
* Demand schedule
* Self-regulating schedule
* Rigid feeding
* Cue (responsive) feeding
* Parent-directed feeding
Getting confused? Many moms do get confused, so they just do it their own way. There are groups that promote certain feeding methods based on politics and their own philosophy. There are others who tell new mothers they're a bad parent for even considering feeding formula to your baby, no matter what the reasons.
This isn't to condemn you for choosing what to feed your baby, but to help you become aware of all of the options for feeding available to you.
When you choose your method of feeding, it will have an overall affect on your baby's hunger patterns, sleep patterns, and mood. With Parent Directed Feeding (PDF), you're not ruled by the clock, but have a flexible schedule. This is usually a good choice for both baby and mom and helps eliminate some of the stress involved in feeding and parenting away.
PDF is in the middle of the spectrum between demand-feeding (feeding when your baby cries) and hyper-scheduling (letting the clock dictate feeding). PDF is more baby-oriented than the other feeding methods and the baby learns to follow mom's flexible schedule.
PDF requires the common sense and the ability to not let yourself be ruled by the clock and "The Rules" that are laid down by pediatricians or other advice givers. It's not that you shouldn't feed your baby if he's hungry, you definitely should. You shouldn't make your baby wait if he's hungry. You'll learn to meet your child's needs without being committed to the clock or someone else's ideas of feeding your baby, which will give you freedom to enjoy your baby and your life!
Infant Medical Care News